What was found in Essex's water
The level at the city's main supplier, the highest level anywhere in the city, the EPA limit for each, and where every figure comes from.
| Contaminant | Level vs EPA limit | Suppliers | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrate | 2034 µg/L 20% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: CTWC - SHORELINE REGION-CHESTER SYSTEM · 5,030 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 3080 µg/L — HERITAGE COVE CONDOMINIUMS · 208 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 1796.4 µg/L 18% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: CTWC - SHORELINE REGION-CHESTER SYSTEM · 5,030 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 2856 µg/L — HERITAGE COVE CONDOMINIUMS · 208 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 138.5 µg/L 11% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: CTWC - SHORELINE REGION-CHESTER SYSTEM · 5,030 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 711.59 µg/L — ESSEX GARDENS · 72 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 613.3 µg/L 31% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: CTWC - SHORELINE REGION-CHESTER SYSTEM · 5,030 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 577 µg/L 14% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: CTWC - SHORELINE REGION-CHESTER SYSTEM · 5,030 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Nitrite | 9.8 µg/L 1% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L Main supplier: CTWC - SHORELINE REGION-CHESTER SYSTEM · 5,030 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 100 µg/L — HERITAGE COVE CONDOMINIUMS · 208 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 86.18 µg/L 108% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 80 µg/L Main supplier: CTWC - SHORELINE REGION-CHESTER SYSTEM · 5,030 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 62 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CTWC - SHORELINE REGION-CHESTER SYSTEM · 5,030 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 45.9 µg/L 77% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: CTWC - SHORELINE REGION-CHESTER SYSTEM · 5,030 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 43.8 µg/L 292% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 15 µg/L Main supplier: CTWC - SHORELINE REGION-CHESTER SYSTEM · 5,030 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 23 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CTWC - SHORELINE REGION-CHESTER SYSTEM · 5,030 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 21 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CTWC - SHORELINE REGION-CHESTER SYSTEM · 5,030 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 13.3 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CTWC - SHORELINE REGION-CHESTER SYSTEM · 5,030 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 8 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CTWC - SHORELINE REGION-CHESTER SYSTEM · 5,030 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 2.9 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CTWC - SHORELINE REGION-CHESTER SYSTEM · 5,030 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 2.78 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CTWC - SHORELINE REGION-CHESTER SYSTEM · 5,030 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Combined Uranium | 2.0805 µg/L 6.9% of the EPA limit 30 µg/L Main supplier: CTWC - SHORELINE REGION-CHESTER SYSTEM · 5,030 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 2.45736 µg/L — ESSEX GARDENS · 72 people · 2019 | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate | 2.4 µg/L 40% of the EPA limit 6 µg/L Main supplier: CTWC - SHORELINE REGION-CHESTER SYSTEM · 5,030 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 2 µg/L 2% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L Highest in the city: HERITAGE COVE CONDOMINIUMS · 208 people · 2018 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon And U | 1.77 pCi/L 12% of the EPA limit 15 pCi/L Highest in the city: ESSEX GARDENS · 72 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Thallium, Total | 1.4 µg/L 70% of the EPA limit 2 µg/L Main supplier: CTWC - SHORELINE REGION-CHESTER SYSTEM · 5,030 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 1.09 pCi/L 22% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L Main supplier: CTWC - SHORELINE REGION-CHESTER SYSTEM · 5,030 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 0.6900 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CTWC - SHORELINE REGION-CHESTER SYSTEM · 5,030 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Ethylene Dibromide | 0.0200 µg/L 40% of the EPA limit 0.0500 µg/L Main supplier: CTWC - SHORELINE REGION-CHESTER SYSTEM · 5,030 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0 mg/L 0% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: CTWC - SHORELINE REGION-CHESTER SYSTEM · 5,030 people · 2026 | 3/3 | LCR |
Each bar shows the measured level as a share of the EPA limit: green is
well under, amber is close to it, red is over. For lead and copper the
limit applies to exactly the 90th-percentile figure shown, so red there
means a real exceedance. For everything else the limit applies to a
running annual average while the figure is the 95th percentile of the
system's samples — over 100% is worth reading, but is not by itself a
violation.
Formal violations are listed separately.
These are the utilities' own EPA-reported results, not a city-wide
average. A detection means the lab measured the
substance — it isn't the same as exceeding a legal limit. Hover a source
tag to see the EPA program and years behind each figure.
Water suppliers serving Essex
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| CTWC - SHORELINE REGION-CHESTER SYSTEM | 5,030 |
| HERITAGE COVE CONDOMINIUMS | 208 |
| ESSEX GARDENS | 72 |
Frequently asked questions about Essex tap water
Is Essex tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 25 contaminants in the water serving Essex. A detection isn't the same as a violation — most detected levels are within federal limits. Check the level and source for each contaminant above, and your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report for the official compliance status.
How many water suppliers serve Essex?
3 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Essex, Connecticut to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Essex's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Essex include Nitrate, Nitrate-Nitrite, Copper, Barium, Fluoride. The full list, with the level at the main supplier and the data source, is in the table above.
Where does this data come from?
Every figure is official EPA drinking-water monitoring — the Lead & Copper Rule, the UCMR-5 nationwide testing program, and the EPA Six-Year Review — not our own testing. Each number is labelled with its source and period.